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Edwin Díaz is reportedly moving closer to a return just ahead of the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the Mets, per Alex Freedman at DodgersBeat. The timing here is notable — Díaz could potentially rejoin the active roster against the very team he spent years closing for, which makes this one worth keeping an eye on over the next few days.

Díaz, of course, was one of the most electric relievers in baseball during his time with the Mets. The right-hander burst onto the scene with the Mariners back in 2018 when he saved 57 games and posted a ridiculous 1.96 ERA with 124 strikeouts in just 73.1 innings — a season that earned him his first All-Star nod and established him as one of the game’s premier closers. After being traded to New York as the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal, Díaz had his ups and downs with the Mets but reminded everyone what he was capable of in 2022, when he put together one of the greatest relief seasons in modern history: a 1.31 ERA, 32 saves, and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings. That slider is still one of the nastiest pitches in baseball when he’s right. His journey to Los Angeles was seen as a chance to pair that kind of back-end arm with an already loaded pitching staff, and getting him healthy and available is a significant piece of the puzzle for our bullpen down the stretch.

The fact that he’s progressing toward a return right now matters for a few reasons. Our bullpen has been asked to carry a heavy load, especially with some of the rotation inconsistencies we’ve seen — Emmet Sheehan‘s recent struggles being the most obvious example. Adding a closer with Díaz’s pedigree and swing-and-miss stuff would immediately change the complexion of the late innings. He’s the kind of arm that shortens a game and makes a six-inning start feel like plenty.

There’s also the intangible angle here. Díaz facing the Mets — a team he spent years with, a fanbase that adored him during his peak — would add a layer to what’s already shaping up to be a meaningful series. I wouldn’t read too much into the narrative side of things, but it’s hard to ignore.

We don’t have a firm date yet for his activation, so this is still in the “approaching” phase rather than a done deal. But the direction is encouraging. If Díaz can come back and give us what he’s capable of, the back end of our bullpen looks a whole lot scarier heading into August and beyond. This is a development I’ll be tracking closely as the week unfolds.

Source(s): Alex Freedman (DodgersBeat) | First reported: July 22, 2026 9:39 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers